Rating and value of paintings by André Brasilier

If you own a work by or after the artist André Brasilier, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

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Rating and value of the artist André Brasilier

Considered an important contemporary artist of the 20th century, André Brasilier leaves behind an artistic identity of his own. This legacy consists mainly of oils on canvas.

At present, the prices of his works are rising at auctioneers' gavels, his stock is on the rise. His canvases and other works are particularly prized, especially by French and American buyers, and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €362,000, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Brasilier's works.

In 2022, a predominantly yellow composition entitled Grande chevauchée du lac en automne sold for €362,000 while it was estimated at between €120,000 and €240,000. 

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious 

Style and technique of the artist André Brasilier  

André Brasilier (b. 1929) is a French painter and lithographer associated with figurative lyricism, who develops a poetic vision of landscape, the horse and the female figure. His style is based on a synthesis of light abstraction and refined figuration, giving his scenes an atmosphere of dream and silence.

His aesthetic is marked by the search for a soothed, purified and timeless world. Recurring themes in his work are horses, often in groups or in slow motion, symbols of freedom, elegant women, often reclining and contemplative, meditative landscapes and flowery interiors.

He depicts stripped-down worlds, devoid of narrative elements, favoring the contemplative dimension. Silhouettes are reduced to the essentials, with fluid lines and soft contours. There are no physiognomic details, and primacy is given to overall form and visual rhythm.

Horses are represented as white or pastel forms, almost calligraphic. The palette is luminous, uncluttered, dominated by blues, pinks, soft ochres, milky whites and deep blacks. Contrasts are delicate, often modulated in velvety flat tints.

Color is used as an emotional medium rather than a descriptive datum. Frequent use of soft gradations is required. Light is diffused and porches from the morning gloom or twilight hours.

Brasilier uses subtle backlighting effects, creating an impression of unreality or temporal suspension. The organization is simple and stable, with dominant horizontal lines and regular rhythms.

The spaces are uncluttered, with supression of accessories and reduction of details to the bare essentials. The repetition of motifs is harmonious, with lined-up horses, trees in series and feminine silhouettes.

He applies oil paint in translucent solids and light layers. His brushwork is supple, his gestures quick but controlled, with an absence of heavy impasto. His work is close to lithography, with clear lines, minimal volumes and flat surfaces.

The major area of his work remains the exceptional mastery of the relationship between line, flat tints and transparencies. The lithographs are recognizable by their subtle gradations and dreamlike ambience.

The life of André Brasilier  

André Brasilier was born in Saumur in 1924, into a family of artists  his father, Jacques Brasilier, was a painter and his mother a musician. His family environment was marked by culture, music and drawing, which nurtured his artistic sensibility from an early age.

He grew up in contact with nature in the Loire Valley, which was to become one of the poetic driving forces behind his work. He moved to Paris for a time to study at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he received a thorough academic training.

In 1953, he won the Prix de Rome, a major distinction that opened the doors to the Villa Medici. His stay in Rome was decisive, as he discovered the Renaissance, the Italian landscape and architectural light, all of which had a lasting influence on his approach to color.

He began exhibiting in the 1950s, and his style soon took shape around a gentle, uncluttered lyricism that blends figuration and light abstraction. His early canvases focus on calm interiors, stylized female silhouettes and interpreted landscapes.

It was in the 1960s and 1970s that he built up an immediately identifiable pictorial language, with horses, meditative women and musical landscapes as recurring themes. He is particularly appreciated in Asia, where his sense of emptiness, line and harmony finds an aesthetic echo.

His painting evolves towards an intensification of stripping, with softer colors and more fluid forms. Today, he is considered one of the great representatives of French lyrism (Mathieu, Duvillier, Degottex). His work can be found in numerous international collections.

He is recognized for an exceptionally long and coherent career, with no radical stylistic breaks. His work continues to be exhibited and studied, not least for its ability to create a universal visual poetics.

Market segmentation and artist's rating

Many types of work circulate on the artist's market. Oils on canvas are the most sought-after segment, and iconic pieces (horses, women, blue landscapes) dominate the market.

Lithogrpahies are very numerous with an active, accessible and international market. Gouaches and watercolors are part of an intermediate segment appreciated for the finesse of their colors. Drawings respond well to the demand of graphic collectors.

Large formats have a premium value, particularly sought after in Asia and the Middle East. Small formats (under 30 cm) are highly liquid. Medium formats (30 - 80 cm) constitute the core market for oils, with attractive quality/price ratios.

Large formats over 80 cm are very rare and highly valued, especially with groups of horses. These are the absolute emblem of Brasilier, with strong worldwide demand. Landscapes of the Loire or blue landscapes are also part of a very dynamic market.

Synthetic works, with simple composition and a soft palette are the most highly priced. Valuation criteria include subjects dear to the artist, color quality, period (1970s - 1990s highly sought-after), state of preservation, provenance and exhibitions.

The geogrpahic market is fairly dispersed in Asia, the United States and the Middle East, but France remains the central market for regular sales. Brasilier is one of the most sought-after French contemporary figurative artists internationally.  

Recognizing the artist's signature

André Brasilier very occasionally signs his works, most of the time at the bottom of the painting, in a color that contrasts with the background.

Knowing the value of a work 

If you happen to own a work by André Brasilier or after the artist, don't hesitate to request a free valuation using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and chartered auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, not forgetting to send you ad hoc information about it.

If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also help you find alternatives to sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.